What's the difference between a pandemic influenza outbreak and a bad influenza season?

• An influenza pandemic is a global outbreak of disease that occurs when a new influenza virus appears or " emerges" in the human population, causes serious illness and then spreads easily from person to person worldwide.
• Pandemics are caused by a new strain of influenza against which there is little or no natural resistance and no vaccine.
• Influenza viruses that have circulated previously cause normal annual influenza outbreaks. Many people have some immunity to circulating strains. Every year in theUnited States, on average, 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu.
• In a pandemic influenza outbreak:
  • Symptoms might be more severe and complications more frequent.
    
  • Healthy people might be at increased risk for serious complications.
    
  • Hospitals and doctor's offices might be overwhelmed.
    
  • Vaccine probably would not be available in the early stages of a pandemic.
    
  • Effective antiviral medicines might be in limited supply.
    
  • Society may be seriously impacted (e.g., widespread restrictions on travel, closings of schools and businesses, cancellations of large public gatherings).
    
  • Domestic and world economy may be severely impacted.

How do strains of influenza differ?

• Strains of influenza differ based upon combinations of certain proteins on the surface of the virus.
• With human strains, minor changes, called drift, occur each influenza season.
• Major changes, called shift, also can occur, and these strains tend to cause larger outbreaks of flu.
• The influenza virus changes enough each year to make most people susceptible to getting the flu.
• Vaccine manufacturers modify the seasonal influenza shot each year to reflect the changes in the circulating virus.
• In a typical influenza season, several strains will be circulating.

Is there a vaccine to prevent pandemic influenza

• Vaccine is the first line of defense to protect people from getting the flu.
• There are no commercial supplies of vaccine against pandemic influenza virus because the specific pandemic strain is not known in advance.
• It is impossible to develop a perfect match vaccine until a new influenza virus has shifted to human-to-human transmission and that strain has been identified and characterized so that a vaccine can be developed.
• TheUnited Statesand other countries are developing and producing supplies of human vaccines for the current H5N1 strain of avian influenza, but there is no guarantee that these will be effective against a new human-to-human influenza strain.
• Influenza vaccine production depends largely on chick embryos. A virulent avian influenza strain may be lethal for chick embryos and make current vaccine production methods ineffective.

Can antiviral drugs prevent or treat pandemic influenza?

• Antiviral drugs such a Tamiflu ® are helpful in treating regular influenza symptoms and in lessening the potential for severe complications.
• Current manufacturing capacity for antivirals cannot produce enough to treat everyone.
• Today's antiviral drugs may have limited effect against a new influenza strain.

How fast can a pandemic influenza strain spread?

• In a typical influenza season, we have as many as six months to prepare, and we have some knowledge of the circulating viruses. This allows for the production and delivery of vaccines against the circulating strains.
• In a pandemic influenza outbreak, a new virus may reach theUnited Statesin hours or days because of international travel. Because few people have immunity to a new pandemic strain, it is likely to become widespread over a period of a few weeks.
• In past pandemics, for example the 1918 Spanish flu, the outbreak occurred in several waves of infection. There might be a period of several weeks in which many people are ill, followed by a few weeks of fewer cases of illness, then another surge of illness. Planning must take into account the likelihood of more than one wave.

How will we know that a pandemic has started?

• There is an international influenza surveillance network through cooperation among many nations under the leadership of the World Health Organization.
• Constant communication is maintained about the strains of influenza that are circulating in each region of the world.
• The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention plays a major role in the international surveillance program and in disease surveillance in theUnited States. Information on influenza is shared among the states.
• International surveillance and disease control efforts have been focused on the H5N1 strain of avian influenza (bird flu) that has the potential to change into an easily transmitted human-to-human strain.

When did the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services/ Division of Public Health become concerned about pandemic flu

• A pandemic influenza outbreak is always a concern for public health.
• In the last century, pandemics occurred in 1918, 1957 and 1968.
• The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services/ Division of Public Healthpromotes annual influenza vaccination, especially for people with high risk for complications (including people with heart disease, diabetes, respiratory conditions and other medical conditions) and for young children. Annual influenza vaccinations are given by public health centers and other clinics throughout the state.
• Public health activities inAlaskafocus on educational messages promoting vaccination and disease prevention practices like hand washing and covering coughs as well as staying home from work or school during illness.
• DHSS/DPHconducts influenza surveillance to track the spread of influenza and illnesses with similar symptoms, and to identify the specific strains of influenza through laboratory testing.
• The current state plan for pandemic influenza preparedness and response is in draft form as part of the Alaska Public Health Emergency Operations Plan. This plan identifies critical response functions and assigns responsibilities for those functions to appropriate state agencies.

What has been done in Alaska to prepare for a pandemic influenza outbreak

• Alaska's Pandemic Influenza plan calls for actions at the state and local level to communicate medical information, conduct disease surveillance, deliver vaccines, distribute medications and implement public health measures to control the spread of disease.
• Annual public health influenza vaccination clinics in several communities have been used as exercises for the potential mass vaccination of people.
• A state mass casualty plan has been written and exercised to prepare for rapidly expanding hospital and medical services capacity.
• Plans have been made and tested for using the Strategic National Stockpile to get additional medicines and supplies in an emergency situation.

What are the biggest challenges that remain in preparing for a pandemic outbreak?

• A major challenge is to reduce the spread of disease early in the pandemic when the supply of vaccines and antiviral medications is very limited.
• Another big challenge is to rapidly increase the capacity of medical and hospital care to serve large numbers of very sick people.
• A third challenge is to identify sufficient numbers of doctors, nurses, and other health care workers to provide care during a pandemic.
• Alaska must prepare for a number of possible scenarios, depending on the number of ill people, the availability of medical personnel, and the quantities of vaccines and antiviral medicines available.
• We may need to rely heavily on changing people'u s behaviors to reduce illness and death. It may be necessary to isolate sick people and to separate people who have been exposed to the disease, in order to reduce the spread of the disease.
• We may need to close schools or businesses and limit activities such as shopping, travel or other activities where large groups of people gather.
• Families must be prepared to provide care at home for family members who are very sick.

What can people do to protect themselves and their families against pandemic influenza

• During an outbreak, people can reduce the risk of spreading influenza by taking some common-sense measures:
  • Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 30 seconds or use a hand sanitizer often when soap and water are not available.
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then wash your hands.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Stay home from work or school when you are sick.
  • Avoid close contact with those who are sick.
  • Keep living and work areas clean.
    
  • Clean areas with household detergents.
    
  • Sanitize surfaces with bleach or alcohol.
  • If there is an outbreak and public officials ask for cooperation, people may need to change what they do:
    • Keep your distance: avoid crowds and limit travel.
    • Shop for groceries when stores are less crowded, in early morning or late at night.
    • Stop attending school, work, sports or events that bring people together.
    • Work from home if possible.
  • Right now, people can practice healthy behaviors:
    • Eat nutritious food.
    • Get exercise.
    • Get enough sleep.
    • Get an annual influenza shot to protect from strains that are circulating.
    • Avoid tobacco smoke.
  • Families can create their own safety plan, prepare a first aid kit and stock emergency supplies including food, medicines and cleaning supplies.
  • Be informed: The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website has detailed information on influenza (http://www.cdc.gov/flu/).

  What should citizens expect from public health officials to help prepare for and respond to pandemic influenza

  • People should expect a quick response to the initial cases to attempt to control the spread of a pandemic influenza outbreak. This might require isolation of patients to control the spread of disease and in-home quarantine of people who may have been exposed to the disease. It might require social distancing by closing schools and businesses or canceling public assemblies.
  • People should expect frequent, truthful communication from public health officials. In times of crisis, people need a steady stream of information. People will need to trust and follow the advice of those who deliver public health recommendations for any pandemic influenza response effort to be successful.
  • Before an outbreak occurs, people should expect to learn about helpful personal and family preparation tips.
  • During an outbreak, people should receive status reports and information about vaccine and medication supplies and distribution via the media and local emergency and public health officials.
  • People can expect public health officials to have realistic, comprehensive plans in place to coordinate a response with local emergency response agencies including hospitals and other response partners.
• Click here for information about the stages of a pandemic.

   

Building Your Family Disaster Kit

Being prepared involves more than just knowing what to do during an emergency. You need to have essential supplies that will support you and your family during all types of emergency situations. Click here to view the State’s 24-week plan for creating an Emergency Kit.

Disaster supplies to include:

□ 7-day supply of non-perishable food that needs no cooking

□ Baby formula, bottles, powdered milk

□ Hand operated can opener

□ Plastic plates/cups/utensils

□ 2 gallons of drinking water per person to last at least 7 days (don’t forget water for the pets)

□ 7-day supply of pet food and any medication they may take

□ First-aid kit including prescription medications

□ Hand sanitizer or disinfectant wipes

□ Toilet paper, paper towels, unopened package of diapers

□ Soaps, non-scented bleach for sanitizing

□ Plastic garbage bags

□ Nose and mouth protection (N-95 rating)

□ Plastic sheeting

□ Duct tape

□ Flashlights and extra batteries

□ Camping lantern with waterproof matches

□ Portable, battery-powered radio

□ Whistle

□ Fire extinguisher